There are plenty of people that make their own spirits/beer/moonshine, even though other substances are available. In some areas of the US, there is a thriving,

There are plenty of people that make their own spirits/beer/moonshine, even though other substances are available. In some areas of the US, there is a thriving, illicit moonshine trade, yet there are liquor stores abound. Some people prefer moonshine. right you are never going to kill it completely but the point is the moonshiner are in no way mainstream there are far more drug dealers than moonshiners, with one in virtually ever neighborhood in America. The point is, there will be people who prefer it and will go to any length to get it and by making a weaker safer legal alternative reduces the economically viability of producing moonshine, Heroin et. al. Also, the US did outlaw liquor (18th amendment), and many people went through much hassle. Beer was also prohibited which is exactly my argument, if you are going to make it illegally, you are going to make the hard stuff that requires less logistics to transport and has a better rate of return. American consumption of liquor skyrocketed in comparison to beer during the prohibition years and it was the only years in America that it did so. Many speakeasy sold liquor and mixed drinks exclusively. If liquor where outlawed and only beer remained, the consumption of liquor wold drop further due to the alternative being available. Not that I am advocating the abolition on liquor. Just highlighting that we have clear historical reference that prohibition creates a preference for the strongest formula available. And the availability of a safer alternative reduces the economic viability of more potent products.